PRAGUE — The Nashville Predators’ new additions led them to a 4-1 win against the San Jose Sharks before a crowd of 16,648 at the O2 Arena in the 2022 NHL Global Series on Friday, opening the NHL regular season.
Kiefer Sherwood had a goal and an assist, Nino Niederreiter had a goal, and Ryan McDonagh had an assist for the Predators (1-0-0). Jesus Saros made 30 saves.
Sherwood and Niederreiter each signed as unrestricted free agents in the offseason. McDonagh was acquired in a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“I thought all the new guys obviously contributed to our team,” Predators coach John Hynes said. “A lot of them contributed on the scoreboard, but I also thought just the style of game they played really fits the identity, so it’s nice. It’s nice for those guys to get off to a good start.”
Video: SJS@NSH: Niederreiter nets his first goal with Preds
Thomas Hertl scored for the Sharks (0-1-0) in his return to Prague, where he was born, raised and played for Slavia Praha HC at O2 Arena from 2010-13 before coming to San Jose for the 2013-14 season. James Reimer made 28 saves.
“It was a pretty special moment, obviously,” said David Quinn, who coached his first game for the Sharks. “He’s been thinking about that for a long time. Obviously happy for him, and the team, I thought, got a little bit inspired by that. I thought they played better after that. Unfortunately, we only got one.”
Each team went 0-for-4 on the power play. Saros was especially sharp early.
“He’s that kind of goalie, and he’s always our best penalty killer,” Predators defenseman Matthias Ekholm said. “On most nights, he’s our best player. Usually that happens when we win. He’s just standing in there for us, and he did tonight. Super excited for him. He’s a heck of a goalie, and he makes it a lot easier for us defensemen coming back there.”
It was the first regular-season game the NHL has staged outside North America since 2019. The League was unable to play overseas the past two seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Predators and Sharks will play here again Saturday (2 pm ET; NHLN, NBCSCA, BSSO).
“It was great,” Ekholm said of the atmosphere. “Sold out. I mean, it was awesome, and that was Friday night. I can’t wait for Saturday night.”
Sherwood gave the Predators a 1-0 lead at 1:01 of the first period. The forward chipped in a rebound in front of the net after a shot from the right point by Ekholm. McDonagh assisted on the goal.
Hertl tied the game 1-1 at 8:36, six seconds after a San Jose power play expired, roofing the puck from just below the right circle.
Video: SJS@NSH: Hertl locates the loose puck and scores
Eeli Tolvanen put the Predators ahead 2-1 at 1:24 of the second period, firing a shot through traffic past Reimer’s glove into the far upper corner of the net. Cole Smithwho was playing his 10th NHL game, had an assist for his first NHL point.
Niederreiter made it 3-1 at 15:14, finishing with a 2-on-1 Dante Fabbro from the left circle. Sherwood assisted on the goal.
“For the most part, I thought, up until they made it 3-1, we were hanging around,” Quinn said. “I liked some of the things we were doing. But once they made it 3-1, I really thought there was a huge disparity in the way they played compared to the way we played.
“I thought the last 25 minutes, they really took it to us, and I thought we got a little bit demoralized. We’ve got to toughen up a little bit mentally in that department.”
Ryan Johansen had a chance to extend Nashville’s lead, but Reimer used his right pad to stop the breakaway with 2:08 remaining in the second period.
Matt Duchene scored into an empty net with 32 seconds left in the third period for the 4-1 final.
“I think we’ve got to put this one behind us,” Hynes said. “Tomorrow’s a new game. Tonight doesn’t have an impact really on tomorrow. We have to make sure that we get rest. We’ve got to get our mindset right and approach tomorrow [focused on] some of the things we can do better.
“We found a way to win the game, but we weren’t perfect in the game, either. You’re not trying to chase the perfect game, but I think our objective, very similar to what we talked to the players about all training camp [is] ‘How can we be better tomorrow?’ And that’s what our objective is going to be.”
Defenseman Matt Benning had 14:56 of ice time in his debut with the Sharks after signing a four-year contract July 13. He played the previous two seasons with the Predators and had 15 points (one goal, 14 assists) in 118 regular-season games and one assist in eight Stanley Cup Playoff games.
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